Tab and package therefor



TAB AND PACKAGE THEREFOR Filed July 5, 1967 INVENTOR. ALEXANDER C. RIDLAND Y Maw United States Patent Ofiice Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tab construction particularly useful with easel type greeting cards wherein a strip of material is foldable along a central hinge line providing two substantially parallel tab legs with each leg having an adhesive portion adjacent the free end of the leg on the outer surface of the leg. The boundary of the adhesive portion inward from the free end of each leg is spaced outwardly from an alignment indicator line. The adhesive surface can be protected with a shield of suitable material that does not adversely affect the adhesive, such as wax paper or a proper plastic for example. In use, the protective shield is peeled off and the adhesive portions of the tab legs are aflixed to the inner faces of the foldable flaps of the easel type card with the alignment indicator lines indicating how the tab legs should be folded and aflixed. A unique package is provided for the tabs wherein the tabs are held in a matchbook type package with protective shields for the adhesive surfaces of the tab legs affixed to the package and providing the means for retaining the tabs in the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tab construction disclosed herein is used to limit the spread of two sides of easel type greeting cards. Easel type greeting cards, such as Christmas cards, are often positioned with the bottom ends of their sides being spaced apart and resting on a flat surface such as a mantel, table, or the like. It is intended that the cards maintain an inverted V shaped configuration and thus provide a display. However, it is difficult to maintain the desired V shaped configuration, since if the front and back ends of the card are spread only a minor amount, the card tends to tip over and if the front and back ends of the card are widely spread, then the ends slip apart and the card flattens out.

The present invention provides a simple, easy-to-use tab construction that holds the sides of the card in the inverted V shaped position even when the ends of the card are resting on a slick surface. The present invention further provides a simple tab package that renders the improved tabs easy to store and handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the tab construction takes the form of a strip tab capable of being folded at a central point providing two tab legs. The outer end surfaces of the legs are provided with an adhesive and the legs are bendable adjacent the adhesive portions. The legs are marked with an alignment indicator to indicate the proper alignment with the ends of the card so that the tab can be quickly and easily used. It is preferable, although not completely necessary, to provide a shield over the adhesive portions of the tab legs.

A fold over book type package holds a plurality of the individual tabs and has shields of suitable material such as wax paper or a suitable plastic that extend down to cover the adhesive portions of the tab legs and provide the connection to retain the tabs in the package. Individual tabs are easily removed from the package by merely pulling each tab downward away from the shield.

3,424,305 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved tab construction for holding the ends of easel type cards against separation when supported by the ends on a substantially smooth surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved package for such tabs that utilizes a simple retaining means for connecting a plurality of tabs in easy to remove position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved tab and package arrangement wherein the package is similar to a matchbook package, and a tab can be individually removed and activated by simply pulling the tab away from the top of the package.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the accompan ing detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a tab constructed according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the tab of FIGURE 1 shown folded into stored position and with a protective shield over the adhesive surfaces.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of an easel type card in the erected position and showing the tab of FIGURE 1 fixed in place.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a package for storing a plurality of the tabs depicted in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged end view of the package of FIGURE 3 disclosing the details of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First embodiment Referring to the drawing, FIGURE 1 illustrates a tab construction having a strip 11 of a suitable material that preferably is light weight and sturdy and that is either flexible or substantially non-flexible. A strong paper has been found satisfactory in use. The strip is provided with a central portion generally indicated by dotted lines 13 that is sufliciently flexible as to be bent into a fold that forms two tab legs 15 and 17. v

The end portion of leg 15 is coated with an adhesive 19, and the end portion of leg 17 is coated with an adhesive 21. The adhesive may be of the type that is normally dry and is wetted for use, such as is used on envelopes, or the adhesive can be a normally sticky surface. There is no adhesive on the bottom or reverse surfaces. A prominent alignment indicator line 23 is spaced from the inner boundary of the adhesive surface 19 and a prominent alignment indicator line 25 is spaced from the inward boundary of the adhesive surface 21. When the ends of the legs 15 and 17 are inserted between the sides of the card, the alignment indicator lines function to provide the user with the means for correctly spacing the adhesive portions from the ends of the card. After the legs are secured to the inner surface of the sides of the card by the adhesive portions, the ends of the legs 15 and 17 are then bent at points adjacent to the adhesive portions for use as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Second embodiment FIGURE 2 illustrates one manner of placing the tab 11 into a stored position. In this arrangement an adhesive requiring a protective shield is used. The tab legs 15 and 17 are folded about the fold 13 and the adhesive portions 19 and 21 face the outside. A protective shield 27 is placed over the free ends of the legs 15 and 17, and the upper ends 29 and 31 of the shield extend past the adhesive portions to provide gripping means making the shield easy to peel away.

Operation of the first and second embodiments If a shield 27 is utilized, the shield is first removed from the adhesive surfaces of the tab legs 15 and 17. The tab 11 is positioned with the alignment indicator lines 23 and 25 along the lower ends of the card side 33 and 35. The adhesive portions 19 and 21 are then pressed into engagement with the inner surfaces of the card sides 33 and 35 of the easel type card 37. The tab is bent at the inner boundaries of the adhesive portions 19 and 21, and the tab legs 15 and 17 are straightened in end to end relation about the fold 13 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The card will now maintain this position when the bottom ends of the sides are placed on a flat surface such as a fireplace mantel, table, desk, etc. The sides will not tend to either spread further or reduce the angle at which they are separated.

The card can be flattened for storage by folding the tab 11 between the card sides 33 and 35, and bringing the sides of the card together.

The alignment indicator lines 23 and 25 assure that the tab legs will be spaced upward from the plane of the bottom end of the card sides 33 and 35 as shown in FIG- URE 3. This avoids interference with the surface upon which the card is placed.

Third embodiment A very effective packaging arrangement for a plurality of tabs constructed according to FIGURE 1 is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. A foldover package is provided consisting of a base 39 and a cover 41 connected by a U-shaped connecting portion 43. Several tabs 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are depicted. The tabs are connected to the package in a unique manner as illustrated in FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE illustrates the tab 11 fixed in place with its adhesive portions 19 and 21 covered by the ends of a shield 45 that is fixed in place inside the U-shaped coupling portion 47 of the package of FIGURE 5 that corresponds with the coupling portion 43 of FIGURE 4. The U-shaped coupling portion 43 or 47 and the shield 45 may be secured together in any known suitable manner such as by adhesive, stapling or the like. The free ends of the shield extend down between the base 39 and cover 41 of the package and then are folded back to engage the sticky adhesive surfaces 19 and 21 on the tab legs and 17.

Operation of the third embodiment A tab is removed by simply pulling it downward away from the coupling portion 47 of the package. The foldover portions of the shield 45 gradually release the adhesive portions 19 and 21 on the tab legs 15 and 17 and the tab is ready to use in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

Several rows of tabs can be provided in the package by adding additional layers of shields. This makes it possible to store a large number of tabs in a small, simple, compact package from which the tabs can be easily and rapidly removed.

In this embodiment it may be desirable to use an adhesive on the tab which becomes effective chemically upon removal of the shield. Thus, the adhesive and the shield include materials such that the adhesive is primed when the shield is removed.

Having described my invention, I now claim:

1. An improved tab construction for holding the ends of easel type cards comprising:

a strip of strong, light weight material being foldable at its central portion to provide a pair of legs;

an adhesive portion adjacent the free end of each leg on the outer surface thereof; and

an alignment indicator line spaced inwardly from the inner boundary of each adhesive portion for aligning said tab with the ends of the easel type cards.

2. An improved tab construction according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive portions are covered with a removable protective shield that does not adversely affect the adhesive portions.

3. An improved tab construction according to claim 1 wherein said legs are bendable at a point adjacent said adhesive portions.

4. An improved tab construction and tab package, for holding the ends of easel type cards comprising:

a plurality of tabs folded in substantially a U-shaped configuration providing a pair of legs having adhesive portions on their ends,

a base and cover connected by a coupling portion; and

shield means connected within the coupling portion and having downwardly extending free ends folded back in contact with the adhesive portions on said legs to hold said tabs in a packaged position.

5. An improved tab and package as claimed in claim 4 in which:

said tabs comprising strips of strong, light weight material being foldable at their central portions and having an alignment indicator line spaced inwardly from each adhesive portion for facilitating alignment of said tab with the ends of the cards.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,370 12/1919 Porter 20656 2,170,147 8/1939 Lane 20656 2,329,645 9/1943 Panzetta 28133 2,965,223 12/1960 Schladermundt et al. 20656 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

